Free printable wedding invitations can be found all over the Internet, or you can even design your own. But, can you make them look good? From the paper you use to the quality of printing, it all affects the final printed product. So, what are the tricks and tips that can take a ink-jet printed wedding invitation from shoddy to professional? To find out, keep reading and you'll learn exactly what is involved in turning free, printable wedding invitations into classic, professional-looking masterpieces.
Invest in Great Paper Stock
When you go to print out your wedding invitations, you're not going to reach for a no-name package of copier paper. Instead, you want to invest in a heavy card stock that has texture, weight and an expensive feel. Not only will your wedding invitations be more substantial and durable, they'll also look better. Aim for at least an 80lb card stock.
You can pick up pre-cut card stock at most craft or paper stores. Or, you can purchase a ream of plain, white or cream-colored card stock and cut each invitation out yourself. If you do cut the invitations, be sure to use a high-quality paper cutter to ensure accuracy and a straight, clean cut. When making your own invitations, reply cards and wedding programs, try to buy the same type of stock paper so that they match.
Use a High-Quality Printer
If your printer constantly jams, prints unevenly or leaves unsightly ink lines on your documents, you don't want to use it for your wedding invitations. Instead of wrestling with a cheap printer that's not up to the job, ask a friend to use theirs or take the invitations to a copy shop where they can do fast, laser-printed copies for as little as 5-cents an invitation.
Add a Personal Touch
While sometimes a simple piece of white card stock with a well-worded and well-placed message can make a strong and classic impact, you may want to dress your wedding invitations up with a few embellishments.
Try adding a small bow at the top, or affixing a small charm or die-cut paper charm (these can often be found at scrapbooking stores). A style that's become increasingly popular is to print your wedding invitations on vellum paper, which is see-through and creates a soft, ghosted effect.
Pick a Readable Font Searching for free printable wedding invitations online is great, but don't get sucked in by complex, but hard-to-read fonts. Ideally, you want all your wedding guests to be able to easily read and understand every word of your invitation. So, stay away from overly ornate, script fonts that don't always work on paper.
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